James 1:17

James 1:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
• New International Version (NIV)Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Context of James 1:17

15Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. 19Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

James 1:17 word by word

πᾶσα δόσις ἀγαθὴ καὶ πᾶν δώρημα τέλειον ἄνωθέν ἐστιν καταβαῖνον ἀπὸ τοῦ πατρὸς τῶν φώτων παρ᾽ ᾧ οὐκ ἔνι παραλλαγὴ ἢ τροπῆς ἀποσκίασμα.Read the interlinear

• Everyπᾶςpas · allG3956
• goodἀγαθόςagathos · goodG18
• giftδόσιςdosis · giftG1394
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• perfectτέλειοςteleios · perfectG5046
• giftδώρημαdōrēma · free giftG1434
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• from aboveἄνωθενanōthen · from above/againG509
• and cometh downκαταβαίνωkatabainō · to come/go downG2597
• fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
• the Fatherὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the Fatherπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
• of lightsφῶςphōs · lightG5457
• withπαράpara · from/with/besideG3844
• whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• isἔνιeni · there isG1762
• noοὐou · noG3756
• variablenessπαραλλαγήparallagē · variationG3883
• neitherἤē · orG2228
• shadowἀποσκίασμαaposkiasma · shadowG644
• of turningτροπήtropē · turningG5157

Cross-references for James 1:17

• James 1:5If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
• James 3:15This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
• Genesis 41:16And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
• Exodus 4:11And Yhwh said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I Yhwh?
• Exodus 31:3And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,
• Exodus 36:1Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom Yhwh put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that Yhwh had commanded.
• Numbers 11:17And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.
• 1 Chronicles 22:12Only Yhwh give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of Yhwh thy God.
• 1 Chronicles 29:19And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.
• 2 Chronicles 1:11And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:
• Proverbs 2:6For Yhwh giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
• Isaiah 28:26For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him.
• Daniel 2:21And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
• Matthew 7:11If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
• Matthew 11:25At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
• Matthew 13:11He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

Commentaries on James 1:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above - Whatever is good is from God; whatever is evil is from man himself. As from the sun, which is the father or fountain of light, all light comes; so from God, who is the infinite Fountain, Father, and Source of good, all good comes. And whatever can be called good, or pure, or light, or excellence of any kind, must necessarily spring from him, as he is the only source of all goodness and perfection…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17Every good gift and every perfect gift - The difference between good and perfect here, it is not easy to mark accurately. It may be that the former means that which is benevolent in its character and tendency; the latter that which is entire, where there is nothing even apparently wanting to complete it; where it can be regarded as good as a whole and in all its parts. The general sense is, that God is the author of all good. Every thing that is good on…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-18Verses 12-18 It is not every man who suffers, that is blessed; but he who with patience and constancy goes through all difficulties in the way of duty. Afflictions cannot make us miserable, if it be not our own fault. The tried Christian shall be a crowned one. The crown of life is promised to all who have the love of God reigning in their hearts. Every soul that truly loves God, shall have its trials in this world fully recompensed in that world above…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17God is the Father of the heavenly lights (see footnote). This is because he created everything in the sky (Genesis 1:3, 14–17). Unlike the moving lights in the sky, God never changes or casts a shifting shadow.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. gift ... gift--not the same words in Greek: the first, the act of giving, or the gift in its initiatory stage; the second, the thing given, the boon, when perfected. As the "good gift" stands in contrast to "sin" in its initiatory stage (Jas 1:15), so the "perfect boon" is in contrast to "sin when it is finished," bringing forth death (2Pe 1:3). from above--(Compare Jas 3:15). Father of lights--Creator of the lights in heaven (compare Job 38:28…Read the comment

Topics related to James 1:17

• Blessing
• Gifts from God
• God
• God Continued...
• Light

In the dictionaries

• Entice
• Fade
• Lack
• Lay
• Liberally
• Light
• Lust
• Pure
• Receive
• Religion

Commentaries on James 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings